League

Saigon High
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Lê Thien started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes into the match, HoangNamFc's goalkeeper Phan Liem had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lý Bien. Nguyễn Khoi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phan Liem having to interfere. In the 11th minute Nguyễn Khoi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phan Liem saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Đặng Quang showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lê Thien, who was totally free with the ball in the 14th minute. In the 15th minute, Lý Bien got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. When HoangNamFc's Nguyễn Dung in 25 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Đặng Quang guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. After a defensive mix-up in Saigon United's zone, Nguyễn Dung stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Đặng Quang came out of the goal and Nguyễn Dung tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Lê Anh Hung hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 34th minute, Lê Thien managed to get in a good position for a shot. HoangNamFc's supporters rose to their feet, but Lê Thien was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Đặng Quang breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Nguyễn Tinh fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Đặng Quang having to interfere. When HoangNamFc's Lê Thien in the 37th minute got a chance for a shot 37th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Saigon United's goalie prevented a goal. In the 38th minute, Lý Bien got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. 40 minutes into the game, Đặng Nguyet was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Saigon United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave HoangNamFc the free kick. The supporters of HoangNamFc booed when Saigon United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 40 match minutes in a wonderful position. Đặng Nguyet didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 41st minute, Lê Thien left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The HoangNamFc fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Phan Liem took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nguyễn Khoi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Phan Nam kicked well hit freekick during the 46th minute of the match. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Nguyễn Khoi was the one to do the kick off. When Nguyễn Ritchell fell near the penalty area in the 52nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored HoangNamFc's protests and gave Nguyễn Ritchell a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Saigon United booed when HoangNamFc was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nguyễn Ritchell didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 61st minute of the match, Nguyễn Dung got a very nice opportunity to score, but Đặng Quang was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Lý Bien sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Nguyễn Khoi came up free with the goalie in the 63rd minute, the Saigon United fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Nguyễn Khoi couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nguyễn Khoi in the 69th minute of play forced HoangNamFc's goalkeeper Phan Liem to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Lý Bien's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Phan Liem was relentless in the 71st minute of the game. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lê Thien in the 74th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Đặng Quang prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Nguyễn Dung recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 75th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lê Thien in the 77th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Đặng Quang prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Lê Thien fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Đặng Quang having to interfere. If Nguyễn Dung had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lý Bien received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 84th minute. Phan Liem tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lý Bien struck a weak shot in the 86th minute. Phan Liem didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Saigon United. Ngô Van Tai Em hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Lê Huy, 91 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Nguyễn Khoi scored 2-2 in the 94th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Phan Liem, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.